Page 19 of Forbidden Hunger

His hands are clenched in fists, while she’s cowering, her arms wrapped protectively around her torso. “I told you,” he snarls. “Why don’t you ever listen, you stupid bitch?”

I start toward them, but before I can intervene, he backhands her. The woman staggers back, slipping on wet leaves and falling to the ground.

“Hey!” I snap, marching forward.

The man turns to me with a sneer. “Stay out of it, pretty boy.”

“Fuck you.” I can’t stand to see women mistreated. No way is this asshole getting away with it.

His fists come up when it’s obvious I’m not going to stop. I deflect his haymaker swing with one arm, wincing, and land a roundhouse on his jaw that knocks him flat on his ass.

Flipping him onto his stomach, I sit on him to pin him down. The jerk still tries to wriggle away, but I’m bigger than he is.

Tori rushes up to me, her phone in hand. “Are you all right? I called 911. The police are on the way.”

“Good.” I give her a smile. “I’m okay.” I almost wish the guy would fight back so I could pop him again, but I’m better off not giving the police a reason to haul me in too. Self defense only goes so far.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take the cops long to show up and figure out the situation. After they question all of us, they arrest the man and take him away. The woman is pale, shaken, and I wish I could offer her a hug, but I know better.

“Could we buy you a coffee?” I ask instead.

She doesn’t look at either of us. “I’m all right. Thanks, though.”

Tori goes near, but doesn’t touch her either. “Just until you feel better,” she says, her voice very gentle. “And then we can make sure you get home safely.”

The woman glances at Tori, then away. There’s a bruise already forming on her face. I think she wants to say yes, but – from what little I know about battered women – years of fear and isolation have probably made it difficult to trust.

“Okay,” she says at last, and we walk to a nearby diner. Once we’re in a booth, Tori coaxes the woman into having some soup along with her coffee. We both get something to eat too, so she’ll feel more comfortable.

Gradually, the woman’s story emerges. Her name is Lisa Hopper, and the man who was beating her is her husband, James.

“We’ve been married five years. At first, he was sweet to me, but once we got married he changed. I can’t do anything right; every little thing is another reason for him to go off on me.

“I wanted to leave him, but I never went to college, so the only jobs I can get don’t pay worth beans. I can’t afford rent in this town on what I can earn.”

“Do you have children?” Tori asks softly.

“No. James wanted kids, but I managed to hide my birth control pills from him. I couldn’t bring a child into a situation like that.”

“You’d leave him if you could?” I say.

She hunches into herself. “I don’t see how.”

Carefully, I pull out one of my business cards and slide it across the table. “I’m a lawyer. If you’re ready to leave James, divorce him, I’ll represent you at no charge.”

Lisa studies the card like it’s filled with hieroglyphics. “I’m not sure what to do – I mean, how to go about it. Where would I go? He’ll be out by tonight.”

“We can help you find a shelter – now, while he’s locked up. Once you’re safely away from him, I can file the paperwork for the divorce.”

“You make it sound so simple.” She looks ready to say no, but I can’t stand the thought of her going back to that man. Odds are he’ll kill her one day.

“It won’t be easy,” I say, trying to be as honest as possible. “You’ll have to work hard to build a life away from him. But if you’re willing to do that, I’ll help you. Every step of the way.”

Lisa scrutinizes me for long moments. It’s clear enough that she’s trying to see inside me, to decide if she really can believe what I’m saying.

Finally, the faintest hint of a smile crosses her face. “If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s work hard. It’d be nice to put the effort toward something that’ll actually make my life better.”

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